MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a dark purple with warm, pink undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. It had good pigmentation but was not “one-stroke” coverage. After about half of a pass on the lips, the consistency started to melt and felt more gel-like as I applied it, but it tugged a bit initially. The color applied fairly evenly, but the application would benefit from a lip liner underneath for better, more even coverage overall. This shade lasted nicely for six and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Urban Decay Speedball (DC, $18.00) is lighter (95% similar). ColourPop Leather (DC, $7.00) is lighter (95% similar). Smashbox Bride of Chucky (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Strong Woman (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Jawbreaker (DC, $18.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Own the Look (LE, $19.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Punk Couture (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). Melt Cosmetics Recuerdos (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (85% similar). KVD Beauty LUV (P, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Cloud9 (LE, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). Sephora Orchid (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, cooler, less glossy (85% similar). NARS Kirat (P, $34.00) is darker (85% similar). Maybelline Violet Vixen (DC, $7.49) is cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Pandemonium (DC, $18.00) is cooler (85% similar). Smashbox Violet Riot (P, $21.00) is cooler (85% similar). Bite Beauty Aquarius (LE, $26.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Smashbox Mongal (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar). Revlon Stir the Pot (P, $12.39) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar). Sephora What's My Secret (05) (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Urban Decay Pandemonium (P, $18.00) is cooler, less glossy (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bold, medium-dark fuchsia magenta with pink undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied evenly and smoothly. The consistency was lightly tacky but wasn’t uncomfortable to wear. It wore well for six and a half hours and was neither drying nor hydrating. Maybelline Hot Plum (DC, $7.99) is less glossy (95% similar). Make Up For Ever C207 (DC, $22.00) is darker, more muted, less glossy (95% similar). MAC Daddy's Little Girl (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). Givenchy Ultravioline (24) (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). Urban Decay Frenemy (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Laura Mercier Rose Mauve (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). NARS Silvia (P, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Sitting Pretty (DC, $10.00) is more muted (90% similar). MAC Night Blooming (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). Burberry Brilliant Violet (P, $34.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar). YSL Fuchsia (19) (PiP, $38.00) is darker, more muted, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Pablo (DC, $36.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Beetroot (DC, $21.00) is more muted (90% similar). Bite Beauty #010 (LE, $36.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Urban Decay Gridlock (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Maybelline Orchid Ecstasy (730) (P, $7.49) is lighter (85% similar). Buxom Swinger (DC, $21.00) is lighter (85% similar). Make Up For Ever Creative Violet (212) (P, $23.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (85% similar). MAC Vogue en Violet (P, $23.00) is darker (85% similar). Estee Lauder Thrill Seeker (420) (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish berry with subtle, cool undertones and satiny sheen. It was richly pigmented with full color coverage and a smooth, light-medium thick texture that sat exceptionally well on the lips. The more gel-like consistency made my lips look smoother and fuller. The color wore well for nearly eight hours before it would be time for a touch-up, while the formula was just a smidgen drying after six hours of wear. Maybelline Plum for Me (P, $7.49) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Mulberry (DC, $24.00) is more muted (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Grenadine (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Sugared Maple (LE, $24.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar). Bite Beauty Jam (DC, $26.00) is darker (90% similar). Inglot #293 Lipstick Cream (P, $12.00) is darker (90% similar). ColourPop First of All (PiP, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar). Pat McGrath Sorry Not Sorry (DC, $40.00) is lighter (90% similar). Giorgio Armani Drama Berry (510) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Laura Mercier Plum Sublime (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Bite Beauty #096 (P, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Ivar (P, $10.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Brocade (DC, $37.00) is cooler (95% similar). NARS Impulse (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). Bite Beauty Beetroot (DC, $26.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). NARS Damned (P, $27.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Malibu Sunset (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Oh Baby (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Pat McGrath Wrecked (DC, $40.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Bite Beauty Pavlova (P, $24.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Formula Overview

MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is supposed to have “intense amounts of pigment” with a gel-like texture that melts on lips that leaves behind a satin finish and wears for “eight hours.” It’s supposed to be “comfortable” to wear, but there are no claims about hydration–and overall, they were non-drying. The majority of the range varied from semi-opaque to fully opaque in one stroke, while the texture had some body and thickness to it but was not heavy. The consistency feels firmer in the tube, but it became softer and more pliable as it warmed up against the lips. This was also true about how the color settled and looked on the lips–it tended to fill up lip lines without emphasizing them as much after thirty seconds of wear. The formula didn”t have a lot of slip, and it was actually lightly tacky, which helped it stay in place better. The wear ranged from four to eight hours with lighter shades typically wearing shorter than deeper and more intense shades. The finish was anywhere from satin to natural with noticeable sheen, sometimes glossiness, but it often wore to a satin to semi-matte finish after a few hours. The formula has MAC’s typical vanilla scent but had no discernible taste.

MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Hellebore Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Ambrosial Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick

MAC Marsala Liptensity Lipstick